Melissa from It's Melissa's Kitchen picked Chocolate Pudding this week and all I can say is... THANK YOU!
This is creamiest, chocolatiest, smoothest pudding I have ever, ever tasted in my life.
I was so excited about this week for two reasons:
- I love pudding.
- It is quick and simple to make.
What could I do to make it a bit different? Well, I saw Dorie's recipe on the next page for coffee pudding. Bingo. Then I thought, "Well, what about hazelnut pudding?" Mmm.. hazelnut, coffee, chocolate.
Hazelnut coffee is my second runner up in morning coffee choices (first is the all time fave- French Vanilla). So I picked up some Nutella and was on my way.
Let me just note: I know that Nutella originated in Sweden, but growing up in my super Italian neighborhood of Franklin Square, NY, Nutella was another food group all in itself. It's most popular method of being eaten, you ask? Slathered on two pieces of white bread- no crusts. For lunch. Delicious and nutritious.
Later on in my culinary life, I discovered a myriad of uses for Nutella and started using it in many recipes. When I moved to DC from NY a few months ago, I asked a woman in the supermarket if they carried and Nutella (pronounced NEW-tella) She looked at me like I was crazy. Then, a light bulb went off in her head.
"Ohhhh!" she exclaimed. "You mean NUH-tella."
Oh. No. She. Didn't.
My head almost exploded. I had to remind myself that this is DC, not Long Island or NYC. And although I'm moving back to NYC next year (YAY!), being here has given me great perspective that not everyone is Italian. (And everyone here is super friendly, which, I must admit, is very refreshing!)
But I digress.
I split the pudding mixture to be made into three separate batches: Chocolate, Chocolate Coffee, and Chocolate Hazelnut. For the chocolate coffee, I dissolved 6 teaspoons instant coffee in 6 teaspoons water. For the Chocolate hazelnut, I subbed 1/4 cup Nutella for the chocolate. I whipped up some cream and vanilla extract, and chopped up some chocolate wafers to make a towering triple chocolate pudding extravaganza. I loved Dorie's method of mixing everything in a food processor, and heating it in a saucepan. I have never seen another method like this, and the flavor and consistency really showed. This is phenomenal. I almost wish I knew about this a week earlier, because chocolate pudding pie is my dad's favorite, and it was his birthday last weekend. I'm going to have to make him a belated birthday cake!
Check out the rest of the Tuesdays with Dorie group for more great posts and pics!
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very impressive with the three different flavors. great presentation, looks absolutely fantastic! :)
Posted by: Karen | July 15, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Your pudding parfait looks fabulous!
Posted by: Di | July 15, 2008 at 11:21 PM
The three different kinds of pudding was such a good idea! I'm going to have to try this sometime :)
Posted by: Rigby | July 16, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Wow that pudding parfait is fabulous! The chocolate wafers did me in;) great job!
Posted by: Laura | July 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Wow, that is the ultimate pudding parfait! It looks delicious!
Posted by: LyB | July 16, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Your pudding looks amazing, love the nutella touch! I adore nutella, never heard it pronounced 'new-tella' though :) Fell in love with it in Sweden, it's kind of tough to locate in the rural midwest, but I always find a way :)
Posted by: Andrea | July 16, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Absolutely delicious looking! I think Nutella would be a food group in our home if given the choice. Pudding is one of the few things I haven't tried with Nutella. Great idea!
Posted by: Liliana | July 16, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Nutella. Brilliant!
Posted by: Jessica | July 17, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Mmmm... that looks fantastic! Definitely worth the calories, lol.
Posted by: JacqueOH | July 17, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Looks very nice. My kids were drooling.
Posted by: Jules | July 17, 2008 at 03:41 PM
You are my new hero. I worship the keys you type on. I must try that, right now. Thank you!
Posted by: Lillian | July 18, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Nutella is like a food staple here in Lebanon and everyone loves it. Your tweeks to this weeks recipe sound really great. I look forward to your post next week :)
Posted by: Aaliyah | July 18, 2008 at 11:17 AM
LOL - i call it NUH-tella :) great idea to use the nutella though - much easier than using the hazelnuts like i did. your pudding glass (trifle? parfait??) looks amazing!!!
Posted by: Jaime | July 23, 2008 at 07:15 PM